India offers SEVEN POINT Plan to CARICOM at Summit in Guyana

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

December 3, 2024 – Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has offered to further build on India’s close development partnership and strong people to people ties with the region, with assistance to CARICOM countries in seven key areas.

They include: capacity building, with one thousand more Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), slots for CARICOM countries over the next five years.

In the area of food security; a critical challenge for the countries, he said India’s experience with embracing technology in the agriculture domain, drones, digital farming, farm mechanisation and soil testing would benefit the region.

Given that Sargassum seaweed poses a major challenge for tourism in the Caribbean, the Prime Minister noted that India would be happy to help convert the seaweed into fertilizer.

PM Modi who spoke during the recent India-CARICOM Summit held on November 20 in Georgetown, Guyana, said that the Global South countries were the most impacted by the challenges and conflicts of recent years.

Calling for enhancing collaboration between India and the CARICOM in the fields of renewable energy and climate change, the Prime Minister urged members to join the global initiatives led by India such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Mission LiFE and Global Biofuel Alliance.

Speaking about transformative changes brought about by innovation, technology and trade in India, he offered India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, cloud-based Digi locker and UPI models to countries in CARICOM to augment public service delivery.

CARICOM and India share close cultural ties which includes a devout love for cricket.

The Prime Minister announced training in India for 11 young women cricketers from each of the CARICOM countries. He also proposed organizing “Days of Indian Culture” in member countries next year to strengthen people-to-people ties.

To boost ocean economy and maritime security, PM Modi noted that India was ready to work with CARICOM members on maritime domain mapping and hydrography in the Caribbean Sea.

The Prime Minister in  highlighting  India’s success with quality and affordable healthcare, offered country’s  model of making available generic medicine through the Jan Aushadhi Kendras [ generic medicine shops]. He also announced sending Yoga experts for promoting the health and wellbeing of the people of CARICOM.

The CARICOM leaders welcomed the Prime Minister’s Seven Point Plan for strengthening partnership between India and CARICOM. They appeared to appreciate India’s leadership of the Global South and its strong support for climate justice for the Small Island Developing States.

There was a call for the reform of global institutions and expressions that CARICOM looked forward to working closely with India.

Prime Minister Modi underscored that India stood firmly for giving voice to the concerns of the Global South.

He thanked President of Guyana Irfaan Ali whose country hosted the Summit; Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, current chairman of CARICOM and the CARICOM Secretariat for the successful conduct of the Summit.

The PM also announced that the next India-CARICOM Summit would be hosted in India.